8TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SECOND SESSION No. 53 1121 SENATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 11th January, 2017 1. The Senate met at 10:47 a.m. The Deputy Senate President read Prayers. 2. Votes and Proceedings: The Senate examined the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 10th January, 2017. Question was put and the Votes and Proceedings were approved. 3. Petitions: (a) Rising on Rule 41, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce (Bayelsa East) drew the attention of the Senate to a petition from his constituent, Mr. AcholonuI, Michael and Two Hundred and Ninety-Nine others, against the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency for truncating their careers. He urged the Senate to look into the matter. Petition laid and accordingly referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions [Rule 41 (3)J to report within two (2) weeks. (b) Rising on Rule 41, Senator Sonny O. Ogbuoji (Ebonyi South) drew the attention of the Senate to a petition from his constituent, Okoro Felicia, seeking for reinstatement into the Service of the Federal Road Safety Corps. He urged the Senate to look into the matter. Petition laid and accordingly referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions [Rule 41 (3)J to report within two (2) weeks. (c) Rising on Rule 41, Senator Foster Ogola (Bayelsa West) drew the attention of the Senate to a petition from his constituent, Olomu Solomon N. of the Nigerian Navy, appealing for inclusion into the Military Pensions Scheme. He urged the Senate to look into the matter. Petition laid and accordingly referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions [Rule 41 (3)J to report within two (2) weeks. 4. Personal Explanation: Rising on Rule 43, Senator Mohammed A. Ndume (Borno South) drew the attention of the Senate to his removal as the Senate Majority Leader on Tuesday, IO" January, 2017, which led to the emergence of Senator Ahmad I. Lawan (Yobe North). He expressed appreciation to Senators for giving him the opportunity to serve in that capacity for about one and half years and promised to give his full support to the new Leader. PRINTED BY NA TIONAL ASSEMBL Y PRESS, ABUJA
1122 Wednesday, 11th January, 2017 No. 53 5. Personal Explanation: Rising on Rule 43, Senator James E. Manager (Delta South) drew the attention of the Senate to the demise of Senator Francis Okpozo on the 26 th of December, 2016. Late Senator Francis Okpozo was the Deputy Speaker of former Bendel State House of Assembly before becoming a Senator representing Delta South between 1992-1993. He was an elder statesman whose demise is not only a great loss to Delta State but the entire people of Nigeria. He urged the Senate to observe a minute silence in his honour and also send a delegation to commiserate with the family, people and Government of Delta State. One minute silence accordingly observed in honour of the deceased. 6. Personal Explanation: Rising on Rule 43, Senator Suleiman A. Adokwe (Nasarawa South) drew the attention of the Senate to the demise of the former Governor of Niger State, Engr. Abdulkadir Kure, husband to Senator Zaynab A. Kure, who was a great politician, bridge builder and elder statesman. He urged the Senate to observe a minute silence in his honour and also send a delegation to commiserate with the family, people and Government of Niger State. One minute silence accordingly observed in honour of the deceased. 7. Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions: Motion made: That the Senate do receive the Reports of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of: a. Petition from Sani Abakura against the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, for unlawful disengagement from service; b. Petition from Mr. Philips Ororho against the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba over alleged wrongful termination of his appointment by the centre; c. Petition from Umoru Abdulmiminu Odafe, against the National Board for Technology Incubation for alleged malicious transfer from Technology Incubation Centre, Warri to Yenagoa; d. Petition from I. O. Ngene Esq. on behalf of Mbulu-Owo/Owo Communities in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State against Soldiers of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army for unwarranted invasion/displacement/threatened ejection from their ancestral land; e. Petition from Yahaya Ibrahim Shinko, against the Nigerian Army over his wrongful and abrupt compulsory retirement from the Nigerian Army in 1999 without reason; f. Petition from Y.B. Aminu, on behalf of the NextofKins of Alh. Haruna Musa (Deceased) of Koko Town, against the Nigerian Army for extra judicial execution of APC supporters at Koko Besse LGA and Suru LGA, Kebbi State; g. Petition from War Affected Pioneer Officer Cadets of the Nigerian Airforce against the Nigerian Air Force for non-payment of gratuity and pensions by the Military Pensions Board; h. Petition from Mr. Anoke Wilson Akuma, against the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the West African Examination Council (WAEC) over unlawful termination of his appointment by the FIRS on False Assumption of Forged Certificate; and i. Petition from Farouk Umar Ibrahim, against the Nigerian Navy for Alleged Wrongful Dismissal from the Navy (Senator Obinna 1. Ogba - Ebottyi Central).
No. 53 Wednesday, 11th January, 2017 1123 Reports Laid. 8. Committee on Public Accounts: Report on the Screening of Nominee: Motion made: That the Senate do consider the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the screening of the nomination of Mr. Anthony Mkpe Ayine for appointment as the Auditor-General for the Federation (Senator Andy E. Uba - Anambra South). Report presented. Motion made: That the Senate do resolve into the Committee (Senate Leader). of the Whole to consider the Report (SENATE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE) Consideration of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the screening of the nomination of Mr. Anthony Mkpe Ayine for appointment as the Auditor-General for the Federation. Nominee recommended for confirmation: Mr. Anthony Mkpe Ayine Agreed to. Chairman to report progress. (SENATE IN PLENARy) The Senate President reported that the Senate in the Committee of the Whole considered the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the screening of the nomination of Mr. Anthony Mkpe Ayine for appointment as the Auditor-General for the Federation and approved the nomination. Question: That the Senate do approve the Report of the Committee of the Whole - Affirmative. Resolved in the Confirmation of nomination: Question: "Will the Senate confirm the nomination of Mr. Anthony Mkpe Ayine for appointment as the Auditor-General for the Federation?" - Resolved in the Affirmative. Nomination of Mr. Anthony Mkpe Ayine for appointment as the Auditor-General for the Federation accordingly confirmed. 9. Motions: (a) Ban on the Importation of Vehicles through the Land Borders into the Country: Motion made: That the Senate notes the recently announced Policy of the Federal Government to stop the importation of vehicles into the country through the nation's Land Borders as from the 1st of January, 2017;
1124 Wednesday, 11th January, 2017 No. 53 observes that since the announcement, through the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerians have spoken out, and they still do, that it is not economically expedient to ban the importation of vehicles through our land borders given the ramification of such a policy on the economy; concerned that the decision was ostensibly premised on the allegation that the importation of vehicles through the land borders no longer holds good prospects for revenue generation because of the large - scale evasion of import duties; convinced that rather than stop or suspend the importation of vehicles through our land borders as envisaged in the new policy, it would make better economic sense to allow for the importation of vehicles through one entry border post in each geopolitical zone that has international land border in the country. This will allow for better monitoring and control by the Customs Service, as the land border posts shall become fewer to handle by the Nigerian Customs Service compared to the current situation; and further notes that since the Nigerian Customs Service is convinced that it has the capability of making sure that the government shall not lose its revenue when vehicles are imported through the designated sea ports, this Senate believes that there is no reason why the Nigerian Customs Service shall not employ the same capability to ensure that every revenue belonging to the government is received by it from the importers of cars through the aforesaid land borders. Accordingly resolves to: (i) call on the Customs Service to suspend further action on its policy of an outright ban on the importation of vehicles through our land borders as from 1st January, 2017; and (il) mandate the Committee on Customs and Excise to investigate the circumstances that led to the sudden decision of the Federal Government on the issue of the importation of vehicles through the land borders (Senator Barau I. fibrin - Kano North). Debate: Proposed Resolution (i): Question: That the Senate do call on the Customs Service to suspend further action on its policy of an outright ban on the importation of vehicles through our land borders as from 1st January, 2017 - Agreed to. Proposed Resolution (ii): Question: That the Senate do mandate the Committee on Customs and Excise to investigate the circumstances that led to the sudden decision of the Federal Government on the issue of the importation of vehicles through the land borders - Agreed to. Resolved: That the Senate do: (I) call on the Customs Service to suspend further action on its policy of an outright ban on the importation of vehicles through our land borders as from 1st January, 2017; and (il) mandate the Committee on Customs and Excise to investigate the circumstances that led to the sudden decision of the Federal Government on the issue of the importation of vehicles through the land borders (SIResI081/02117).
No. 53 Wednesday, 11th January, 2017 1125 (b) Urgent need to Resolve Ladoke Akintola University Strike: Motion made: That the Senate notes that workers of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) have been on strike since 9th June, 2016 over non-payment of salaries; believes that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities in the university declared the strike to protest a persisting issue arising from lack of funds to run the institution and pay its workers; aware that LAUTECH is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun, the two States that constituted old Oyo State before Osun was excised in 1991 to form a separate State; recognizes that challenges in fulfilling the shared funding responsibility caused workers to shut down the institution, just before the students were scheduled to begin their second semester examinations; further notes that the strike is causing untold hardship and delay to the education, and future of the students of LAUTECH; livelihood further aware of the need to build confidence in public institutions particularly as regards education; and further recognizes that the students are innocent collateral damage of the strike and their futures are at stake. Accordingly resolves to: (I) implore Oyo and Osun States to expedite action towards resolving the issues and keep the public appraised of steps being taken; (il) encourage staff of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) to return to work in the interest of the students; and (iii) urge the students to exercise patience and not lose hope in public institutions (Senator Monsurat J. A. Sunmonu - Oyo Central) De~ Proposed Resolution (i): Question: That the Senate do implore Oyo and Osun States to expedite action towards resolving the issues and keep the public appraised of steps being taken - Agreed to. Proposed Resolution (ii): Question: That the Senate do encourage staff of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LA UTECH) to return to work in the interest of the students - Agreed to. Proposed Resolution (iii): Question: That the Senate do urge the students to exercise patience and not lose hope in public institutions - Agreed to. Additional Propose Resolution: Insert Additional Propose Resolution as follows: "Implore the Nigeria Police and other Security Agencies to secure lives and properties Institution" (Senator Bareehu O. Ashafa - Lagos East). within the
1126 Wednesday, 11th January, 2017 No. 53 Question that the amendment be made, put and agreed to. Resolved: That the Senate do: (i) implore Oyo and Osun States to expedite action towards resolving the issues and keep the public appraised of steps being taken; (ii) (iii) (iv) encourage staff of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) to return to work in the interest of the students; urge the students to exercise patience and not lose hope in public institutions; and implore the Nigeria Police and other Security Agencies to secure lives and properties within the Institution (SIResI082102117). 10. National Health Insurance Scheme Act CAP N42 LFN 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2017 (SB.278): 11. Motor Vehicles Third Party Insurance 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (SB.276): Motion made: That a Bill for an Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Third Party Insurance 2004 to facilitate the accomplishment of objectives of compulsory Third Party Insurance and for Related Matters, 2017 be read the Second Time (Senator Umaru l. Kurfi - Katsina Central). Debate: Bill accordingly read the Second Time and referred to the Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions to report within Four (4) weeks. 12. Legal Framework for the Cassava Inclusion Policy Bill, 2017 (SB.152): 13. Proceed of Crimes Bill, 2017 (SB.376): 14. Secured Transaction Moveable Assets Bill, 2017 (SB. 261): 15. Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education Owerri (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2017 (SB.398): 16. Chartered Institute of Fraud Examiners (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2017 (SB.167):
No. 53 Wednesday, 11th January, 2017 1127 17. Adjournment: Motionmade:Thatthe.Senate donowadjourn till Thursday, 12th January, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. (Senate Leader). Adjourned accordingly at 1:14 p.m. Ike Ekweremadu, CFR Deputy Senate President, Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.